The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-04-16
PRECIOUS AMBERGRlS.
A Costly Waif of the Sea Occasionally
Found Floating on the Water.

| store on lower Nassau street the other
day, carrying with them parcel which
they handled as carefully as a young
mother fondles her infant. They
thought they had piece of ambergris,
which is a very costly substance usually
found in the belly of dyspeptic whale.
They were confident they had some
thing worth about $4,000, but upon
examination, unfortunately, it was
found to be only hardened tallow mixed
with dirt and salt-about as valuable
as chattel mortgage on flock of
pigeons. The Captain could not believe
in the experts Judgment, and went out,
still clutching his longguarded treas
ure and expressing his dissatisfaction
! with liberal use of profanity. Similar
! mistakes to the one already described
are often made in this city. The pro-
prietor of the store spoke of the history
and uses of ambergrs as follows:
NEARLY every one is constantly using
ambergris. 1t is every day in the hands
of ladies and gentlemen throughout the
world, but comparatively few people
know any thing about it. Its origin is
| disputed. Even scientists do not agree
upon its true source; and, although it
enters all houses where civilization
reaches and an immensely profitable
trade in the commodity is carried on,
nine out of ten people whom you meet
would not know what you meant if you
mentioned its name. 1t is slate-like
substance, varying in color from dark
to light gray, the darker shades, which
are also denser in fiber, being the most
valuable. A piece weighing from
twenty to thirty-five pounds is seen but
once in a lifetime. The most of it
handled by dealers is made up of pieces
only few ounces in weight. 1t is
worth to-day about $24 per ounce, and
during the last few years has sold as
high as $40 per ounce in consequence
of its scarcity, Finding a piece of
it is like finding S. note.
You are as likely, or unlikely,
to find it in one place as in another.
There are several theories as to its
origin, the generally accepted one being
that it is an accumulation of secreted
and indigestible matter in the stomach
of a sick whale. 1t is found all over the
globe at rare intervals by seafaring
men, either floating on the water, cast
up on some shore or lodged inside the
whale. The greatest source of supply
is the Arctic ocean, and also the south
ern ATTITUDES, the usual cruising ground
of whaling vessels. The commanders
are always on the lookout for it, as
among the superstitions of the sea it is
considered an omen of good luck for
the ship ever afterward when her master
brings home piece of ambergris. He
is always allowed a portion of the
profits. You could put piece worth
$4,000 in your overcoat pocket, and
from this you can understand how the
toilers of the ocean never cease theiI
vigilance in hunting for it.
"The fact that it is the most efficient
known substance in producing the
lasting quality in perfumery, gives it its
enormous commercial value. Civet and
musk are used for the same purpose,
but are not so powerful. When a per-
fume is made, white rose, cassia or
heliotrope, for example, the odor of the
flowers would quickly pass away, a:
the spirits forming the body of the
liquid evaporate. Ambergris, however,
prevents this, and is the indispensable
boon that holds back the scent for days
and weeks upon the handkerchief
When treated with alcohol it divides
itself up into an almost infinite
number of fine particles, which
are mixed in the perfumery and re-
main on the fabric after the spirits
have evaporated, acting as minute rcser-
voirs and holding the pure essence of
flower after the cloth is perfectly dry.
One ounce dissolved in q gallon of alco-
hol will make strong tincture, and
you would be required to use only u
single ounce of this tincture in q gallon
of perfumery; which conveys an idea of
how far few ounces of ambergris will
90. Its production is limited to a few
pounds per year, whereas it is the most
important factor in the manufacture of
millions of gallons of perfumery. When
large piece is found the news of the
discovery is tclegraphed to dealers and
the markets of the world are affected.
In one instance New York firm, some
years ago, bought up large portion of
the existing supply, and realized large
Iy on the corner thus produced. Boston
IS the most influential center, as New
Bedford, near at hand, sends out more
whaling ships than any other city
Of any country. The owners of the
ships sell the ambergris to the whole
sale dealers, and although all large
drug stores keep little on hand, it is
bought directly from the wholesale men
! by the perfumery manufacturers. y
N. Y. Mail and EGprcSS.